For a number of years, there has been mounting concern and debate in Germany about the "decline of language". From a linguistic perspective, this hypothesis of decline cannot be substantiated. Public debate, however, does raise some new questions about the stability and mutability of language norms. This volume undertakes a linguistic examination of the relationship between empiricism and standards in relation to various forms and domains of communication, including school, the workplace, and new media. The book's intended audience includes academics and educators, as well as the lay public interested in linguistic issues.